John was Christ’s forerunner, as Elias (Elijah) will be at his second coming. However, the people did not receive John as “the messenger of the Lord” but treated him merely as a spectacle. When they contemplated John, who came as an ascetic “neither eating nor drinking”, they said he had a demon; but perversely they judged Jesus, who came “eating and drinking”, to be “a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners”. But these rejectors of God’s word were condemned by Jesus, e.g. “But I say unto you, that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee”.
One suggested explanation of this verse is that Jesus makes the distinction in this verse between the prophets who came before him and his disciples. Out of the prophets who came before him, John the Baptist was the greatest, but his disciples are greater than him because they now know Jesus as the Messiah, whereas even John who was his forerunner Matthew 17:11-13Matthew 17:11-13XWaiting for response didn't know Jesus was the messiah v.2-3.Matthew 11:2-3XWaiting for response
Another suggested explanation of this verse is that it can be split into two parts.
The first part "among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist" is declaring John's greatness, how he was the greatest amount everyone - except Jesus himself being begotten of God. The original word translated born in "born of a women" is the Greek word gennētos and is only used in this statement concerning John the baptist (see also Luke 7:28)Luke 7:28XWaiting for response so it's difficult to say exactly what it means, but it would mean something different to the Greek word gennaō which is the word that means 'born' (e.g. Matthew 1:2)Matthew 1:2XWaiting for response and so could mean that Jesus was not included in the statement 'born of women'.
The second part "notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he" could simply be a reference to how Jesus, being the least, would become the greatest Philippians 2:8-11.Philippians 2:8-11XWaiting for response Just as he taught his disciples to make themselves the least now, to be exalted later (e.g. Matthew 23:12).Matthew 23:12XWaiting for response
There were some who readily accepted the teaching of both John and Jesus, and such are likened to babies, who drink the word of God as milk. It is truly remarkable that throughout history experts in theology, the “wise and prudent”, are unable to understand the teaching of the scriptures while ordinary people who read the word of God with willing minds do understand. But this is God’s will. What a lesson this is for us: to become like little children in relation to the things of God, for Jesus said: “Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein”. Luke 18:17Luke 18:17XWaiting for response
Jesus invites all, especially those who are heavily burdened, to come unto him and find rest. In those days, burdens were made lighter by carrying them on a yoke and Jesus offers us his yoke to ease the strain of our present life. By learning from him we obtain a glorious hope for the future in which saints will obtain eternal rest in the kingdom of God. This hope can make any affliction or suffering in this present life seem insignificant compared with the glory of the future age. Romans 8:18,Romans 8:18XWaiting for response 2 Corinthians 4:172 Corinthians 4:17XWaiting for response
This chapter speaks of the reception, or rather the rejection, of both John the Baptist and Jesus by the Jews.